Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Import Trade

  • Chapter
Jan Company in Coromandel 1605–1690

  • 50 Accesses

Abstract

If in the economy of the Coromandel coast in the seventeenth century, the one outstanding feature was the expansion of the export trade and consequently of production, a corresponding increase in imports was one of the results of that development. The increase in imports, however, primarily meant an increasing flow of cash specie, because the commodity market for imports does not appear to have undergone any substantial expansion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. K.A.967, L. Ysaacx’s “Informatik’, “Memorie” of l’Hermite, Bantam, 15.10.1609, Bourgonje and Marcelis to Ysaacx, 3.3.1610, Bantam Council to van Wesick, 13.12.1610.

    Google Scholar 

  2. A document, probably dated 1614, gives the following list of commodities as being necessary for the Company’s trade in Coromandel in an average year, but the available data regarding the import of capital in this period definitely suggest that only a fraction of this total requirement was actually imported by the Dutch: 100 candi (1 candi = 500 lb) cloves, 500 sokel (1 sokel = 154 lb) mace, 200 candi nutmeg, 6000 packs of Bantam pepper, 150 candi sandal wood, 4 candi China silk, 200 candi Achin sulphur, 20 candi eagle-wood, 80 candi benzoin, 300 candi tin, 300 candi spelter, 200 candi lead, 200 candi alum, 10,000 lb gun-powder, 2 candi quicksilver, 2 candi vermilion, 100 lb musk, 50 lb camphor, besides a quantity of porcelain, gold yarn, crystal glasses, clock-works, pistols, muskets, pearls and coral. See K.A.968, “Generale memorie van de coopmanschappen etc.”, ff.140–41.

    Google Scholar 

  3. K.A.451, ‘Remonstrantie’ of Franco van der Meer, 12.4.1617, f.201.

    Google Scholar 

  4. See infra, Appendix B.

    Google Scholar 

  5. K.A.1062, 15.1.1647, f.11: K.A.1064, 31.12.1647, f.70vo; K.A.1066, 18.1.1649, f.92; K.A.1072, 10.12.1650, f.57; K.A.1110, 17.12.1657, f.46vo; K.A.1111, 16.1.1658, ff.40–40vo.

    Google Scholar 

  6. K.A.1122, 29.7.1661, f.722vo; K.A.1123, 10.1.1660, f.70vo; K.A.1124, 22.12.1661, f.112; K.A.1152, 5.10.1667, f.56.

    Google Scholar 

  7. The orders from Coromandel to Batavia for the supply of merchandise in 1667 and 1669 were as follows: 1667: 400,000 lb Japanese copper, 100,000 lb Malacca tin, 50.000 lb lead, 8,000 lb vermilion, 4,000 lb quicksilver, 10,000 lb alum, 40,000 lb cloves and 2,000 lb sandalwood. 1669: 300,000 lb Japanese copper, 120,000 lb Malacca tin, 50,000 lb spelter, 30,000 lb lead, 2,000 lb quicksilver, 1,000 lb sandalwood, 4,000 lb eagle wood, 2,000 lb tortoise shell, 20 socket mace, 8,000 lb nutmeg, 20,000 lb cloves, 100 black hats for Pegu, 1,100 mirrors, 1,000 pieces of Japanese porcelain, 72 pieces of European cloth and some stationery etc. for the factories, See K.A.1155, 10.2.1667, f.368; K.A.1160, 1.2.1669 f.433.

    Google Scholar 

  8. K.A.1119, 16.12.1659, f.47vo; K.A.1122, 26.1.1661, f.433; 19.1.1661, f.418vo; K.A.797, 14.7.1670, f.423; K.A.800, 27.7.1673, f.633.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Coen, I, pp.237, 283, 296, 611, 781, 796; VII, pp.236, 243, 359, 470; VII2, pp.1174, 1176, 1185, 1215: K.A.994, 27.1.1625, f.l38vo; K.A.995, Pulicat to Batavia, 28.1.1624; K.A.997, Pulicat to Batavia, 14.6.1625, Masulipatam to Batavia, 26.6.1625; K.A.998, 3.2.1626; K.A.1012, 4.12.1630, f.l32vo.

    Google Scholar 

  10. The available data regarding the profit and loss on coins and previous metals in the ‘thirties and ‘forties are as follows: Price of rials fell to 7½ fanums each at Masulipatam in 1631. Japanese silver taels, valued at 70 stuivers each, gave a loss of 10½ % to 12 % at Masulipatam and 6¼ % at Pulicat in 1640, but towards the end of the same year rendered a profit of 4½ % at Pulicat and 9½% loss at Masulipatam. By 1642, the profits rose to 613/20 % at Pulicat and a little less at Masulipatam. Abbasis rendered a loss of 18 % and Persian ducats of 22 % at about the same time. Towards the end of 1642 silver again sold at a loss of 925/32 % at Masulipatam and prices fell by 10 % in the south. In 1630, some articles of gold, melted and converted into pagodas, rendered a loss of 2½ % to 3 % at Masulipatam. In 1634, a mark of 24 carat gold fetched 65¾ pagodas (1 Masulipatam pagoda = 90 stuivers) at Masulipatam and 82¾ pagodas (1 Pulicat pagoda = 84 stuivers) at Pulicat. Chinese gold, purchased at Batavia, rendered a profit of 3 % to 8 % at Pulicat during 1636–39, and a loss of 20 % to 22 % at Masulipatam in 1639. Chinese gold from Formosa sold at a profit of 35? % to 38 % at Pulicat and of 11% to 15% at Masulipatam during 1636–39. Later, the profits at Pulicat dropped to 25 % in 1641 and to 8 % in 1642, while at Masulipatam there was a 521/32 % loss in the latter year. Japanese gold coubangs fetched a profit of 3 % to 8 % at Pulicat in 1640–41, but their supply was soon stopped for some years because of a decline in the Company’s trade in Japan. For the prices of coins and metals, see K.A.767, 31.7.1640, f.390; K.A.768, 28.5.1641, f.178, 9.8.1641, f.324; K.A.769, 31.5.1642, ff.286–87; K.A.1015, 3.2.1631, f.l30vo: 12.7.1631, f.136; K.A.1012, 4.12.1630, f.132; K.A.1025, 29.5.1634, ff.315vo, 316; K.A.1031, 28.12.1636, f.62, 2.7.1636, f.1112; K.A.1034, 10.2.1637, f.622; K.A.1029, 18.12.1639, ff.71–71vo, 30.9.1639, f.973, 6.5.1639, f.1078, 30.7.1639, ff.1091; K.A.1042, 5.4.1640, f.436, 10.3.1640, f.444vo, 19.5.1640, f.454, 14.4.1640, f.457vo, 30.5.1640, ff.460, 463; K.A.1044, 3.10.1641, ff.269 ff, 25.8.1640, ff.292 ff; K.A.1047, 4.10.1642, ff.706–706vo; K.A.1048, 12.12.1642, ff.58vo–59.

    Google Scholar 

  11. In 1643, bullion and specie worth 1,377,000 florins were imported to Coromandel, while the value of the merchandise imported that year was a little over 228,000 florins; the proportion of merchandise imported in 1644 was considered too negligible to be mentioned specifically. The situation in this respect does not appear to have changed radically during the years that followed. From the Far East in particular almost the entire supply consisted of bullion and cash specie.

    Google Scholar 

  12. For a more detailed explanation of this policy and its consequences, see supra, Chs. III and IV.

    Google Scholar 

  13. The following data are available regarding the profit and loss on bullion and cash specie during 1643–58; By 1647, Japanese silver bars and rials were sold at a loss of 6 % to 7 % at Pulicat, and 15 % in Golconda. In 1656, the loss dwindled to 2%. Pegu silver sold at a loss of 30 % to 32 % in 1653. The loss on abbasis was 4% to 5 % in 1656, and 9 % to 10 % in 1657 (in Pulicat). In 1658, silver gave a profit of 32½% in Golconda. On Chinese gold, there was a profit of 21 % to 30 % in 1643; it came down to 6 % to 9½% in 1648 and a mere 1/16 % in 1653. In 1652, there was a loss of 13% on gold procured at Batavia; in 1656 the loss on this variety amounted to 351l/16 %. The loss on Laos gold was 12½% in 1643, and on Persian gold ducats 5½% in 1644 and 1656. The loss on gold from Holland was 7 % in 1655 and 2% the following year. Gold from Pegu rendered a loss of 3% in 1657 and 9% in 1658. Manilla gold, purchased at Batavia and Macassar, sold at a loss of 15?% in 1652 and 12?% in 1657. For the import of bullion and cash specie during the period, see K.A.772, 17.4.1644, ff.141–42; K.A.783, 26.3.1656, f.116; K.A.1051, 22.12.1643, ff.36, 59vo; K.A.1054, 23.12.1644, f.543; K.A.1056, 3.4.1643, ff.765, 770, 9.7.1643, f.783; K.A.1058, 17.12.1645, f.39vo, “Verhael enz.”, ff.212vo, 214, 220vo; K.A.1062, (vervolg), 28.2.1646, f.803; K.A.1064 (vervolg), 2.8.1647, ff.679 ff; K.A.1066, 18.1.1649, ff.85vo, 91, 14.10.1648, f.452, 3.3.1648, f.489vo, 5.10.1647, ff.516 ff; K.A.1068, 31.12.1649, f.57vo; K.A.1071, 11.12.1649, ff.273vo ff; K.A.1086, 8.6.1652, ff.475, 476vo, 14.7.1652, f.493; K.A.1091, 5.2.1653, ff.262vo, 265vo; K.A.1094, 20.6.1654, f.430vo, 15.9.1654, ff.436 ff; K.A.1099, 7.1.1654, f.73vo; K.A.1100, 24.12.1655, f.83, 7.6.1655, ff.339vo–40; K.A.1104, 6.5.1656, f.234; K.A.1110, 17.12.1657, f.46; K.A.1115, 14.12.1658, f.74; K.A.1117, 31.7.1658, f.65vo.

    Google Scholar 

  14. K.A.790, 3.5.1663, f.91; K.A.791, 11.4.1664, f.32vo, 21.7.1664, ff.261 ff, 3.9.1664, f.335vo; K.A.795, 13.7.1668, f.411; K.A.796, 24.4.69, ff.307 ff; K.A.798, 24.6.1771, f.411; K.A.799, 16.4.1672, f.257, 3.12.1672, f.1012; K.A.1119, 16.12.1659, ff.47 ff; K.A.1122, 26.1.1661, f.430vo; K.A.1124, 29.11.1661, ff.157vo–58; K.A.1132, 12.1.1664, f.765; K.A.1156, 16.2.1669, ff.898–9; K.A.1160, 1.2.1669, f.429vo, 28.6.1669, f.471vo.

    Google Scholar 

  15. K.A.1222, 10.11.1678, f.547, 7.3.1678, f.560vo; K.A.1273, 16.1.1683, f.33.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Coen, V, p.297, VII, pp.94, 231, 359, 372, 421, 474, 478, 829; VII2, pp.1176, 1436; K.A.450, 26.11.1616, f.446; K.A.1001, 27.6.1626, ff.81 ff; K.A.1002, 4.6.1626, f.244

    Google Scholar 

  17. K.A.760, 13.10.1635, ff.575–76; K.A.762, 31.7.1637, f.549; K.A.765, 11.7.1639, f.406; K.A.767, 14.4.1640, f.134, 5.9.1640, f.596; K.A.768, 3.4.1641, f.74; K.A.1019, 15.8.1633, f.19, 25.12.1633, f.40; K.A.1023, 97.12.1634, f.96; K.A.1028, 4.1.1636, ff.42–3; K.A.1031, 28.12.1636, f.54; K.A.1034, 9.12.1637; K.A.1036, 22.12.1638, ff.170, 176vo; K.A.1039, 18.12.1639, f.81.

    Google Scholar 

  18. K.A.1051, “Eysch enz.”, ff.665; K.A.1054, 4.5.1644, f.568vo; K.A.1072, 10.12.1650, f.62; K.A.1087, 19.1.1654, f.262vo; K.A.1102, 1.2.1656, f.10vo; K.A.1111, 16.1.1658.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Coen, I, pp.237–283; II, 297; VII, 94, 98, 99, 237, 241, 242, 283, 359, 419, 421, 425; K.A.451, 19.10.1617, ff.125–26, 12.4.1617, f.200.

    Google Scholar 

  20. K.A.1017, 20.10.1632, f.194; K.A.1019, 25.12.1633, f.39; K.A.1025, 20.9.1634, f.327; K.A.1029, 19.6.1635, f.666vo; K.A.1031, 8.10.1636, f.1129, 28.12.1636, f.69; K.A.1037, 9 5.1638, f.l97vo, 14.5.1638, f.210; K.A.1039, 25.12.1633, f.39; K.A.1042, 2.11.1639, f.420; K.A.1044, 3.10.1641, ff.269 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  21. K.A.1051, 22.12.1643, ff.25vo, 39vo, “Eysch enz.”, f.665; K.A.1054, 13.5.1644, f.604; K.A.1056, 17.2.1643, f.747vo; K.A.1068 (vervolg), 13.4.1649, f.546vo; K.A.1076, 6.7.1651, f.234vo; K.A.1087, 19.1.1654, f.262vo; K.A. 1104, 6.1.1656, f.214vo.

    Google Scholar 

  22. K.A.1124, 22.12.1661, f.112; K.A.1155, 10.2.1667, f.368; K.A.1156, 16.10.1668, f.735; K.A.1160, 1.2.1669, f.432vo; K.A.797, 22.4.1670, f.193; K.A.799, 3.12.1672, f.1000.

    Google Scholar 

  23. For the trade with Bengal during 1634–42, see K.A.1025, 29.5.1634, ff.316vo–317vo; K.A.1031, 28.12.1636, ff.58–60, 2.7.1636, f.1117; K.A.1036, 22.12.1638, ff.171, 177vo; K.A.1039, 18.12.1639, f.79vo, 8.1.1639, f.1045; K.A.1042, 3.3.1640, ff.429–29vo; K.A.1047, “Verhael etc.” ff.414, 434; K.A.767, 31.7.1640, f.393; K.A.768, 28.5.1641, ff. 172–3.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Delhi School of Economics, India

    Tapan Raychaudhuri (Reader in Economic History)

Authors
  1. Tapan Raychaudhuri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1962 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Raychaudhuri, T. (1962). The Import Trade. In: Jan Company in Coromandel 1605–1690. Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-6380-6_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-6380-6_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-017-6372-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-6380-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation